From her extroverted yet rebellious character in 'Tanu Weds Manu', to her bravely innocuous and underrated character in 'Queen', Kangana has come a long way to reach where all the A-list stars in Bollywood are at the moment. Her ability to direct her way towards more meaningful and wholesome roles is an added quality to her personality and she carries her strength as a woman, very comfortably, all around her. So much so, we really couldn't think of anyone else who would aptly fit the role of Manikarnika, from 'Manikarnika-The Queen of Jhansi'.
(c)Zee Studios
The role demanded someone who was very comfortable in their skin yet fierce and bold in their ideology, just like Jhansi ki Rani was. After the release of 'Queen', Kangana thought of pursuing a more technical side to films and hence thought of her stance as a director. After what seemed like a struggle of putting the beautiful film in front of a billion people, she proudly shares directorial credits with Krish Jagalamudi, for 'Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi'.
(c)Twitter
Rani Laxmibai was an epitome of survival of the fittest and gave gender roles another realm altogether when she contributed her half to fight for India's first war on independence. If anyone fits the bill to reincarnate her persona on screen, it's Kangana and here are some reasons why!
(1) Her Determination To Achieve Anything
While Kangana has come into the limelight for many controversies regarding her personal stance in life, her grit and determination to move forward and stand her ground has stood first and foremost. From her stand on the #MeToo movement to her fight to tell the truth about her past abusive relationships, she's managed to survive the fittest notions about being a strong powerful and determined woman and that clearly reflects in her character play as Manikarnika, in the movie. Manikarnika fought hard against the British rule to keep her kingdom intact and fought for her people rather than bowing down to the British. Her actual determination to achieve that dream and fight for it, is what makes Kangana more fitting to play the role.
(c)Zee Studios
(2) Her Tryst With Trying Tougher Roles
If you remember her first movie, 'Gangster', you would know how complex that role was for a debutant and yet she bagged a Filmfare award for her performance for it. Kangana has always taken a variety of challenging roles, which make her characters stand out and you can never forget them. For instance, in 'Fashion', she played a model who was a drug addict, a role which is hard to fit into. Even though Priyanka stole the limelight for the film, Kangana's feature was well appreciated too. After taking numerous challenging roles to experiment and play with, she was truly deserving of one of the most challenging roles and she did fair justice to it as well.
(c)Zee Studios
(3) She's Fearless
Kangana has always been known as someone who doesn't fear anyone. From calling Karan Johar the 'flag-bearer of nepotism' in the industry to speaking up against the Karni Sena threats, this woman fears nothing. She's always fighting her own battles fearlessly and has a strong belief system. So much so, people look up to her for the same. This is one of the main reasons why she fits the bill to play Manikarnika because her personality, as a whole, reflects her on-screen presence and makes the character more real and vivacious.
(c)Zee Studios
No, this isn't a paid article or a PR stunt to promote Kangana or her acting prowess. This is a critical review of someone who is a perfectionist in every right from someone who loved watching her on-screen and sharing a perspective or two. I really hope 'Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi' does phenomenally well, because it's not just about Kangana's prowess to nail the role but a story about a legend who should never be forgotten.
Watch the trailer here

Before we delve into this, first, I need to get something out of the way.
NAAAAAAAAAAAAAINSGONYAMABAGITHIBABA.
Okay. I had to do that. Anyone who has watched the nineties classic 'The Lion King' knows that this powerful opening Zulu chant, with the rising sun in the backdrop, calling out to all the animals in Pride Lands, is nothing short of perfection. I still get goosebumps. At one point, it even was my alarm back in college!
I still remember the first time I saw the movie. I was 6 and I had gone to spend the holidays at my aunt's place in Bangalore. I was particularly out of control that day and my aunt, who was on the verge on losing her mind, plonked me down in front of the TV and popped a videotape into the VCR, asking me to quietly watch the 'cartoon'.
The 'word' cartoon was enough for me to shut up and fix my complete attention on the giant Onida TV. I will never forget how my heart started beating faster when the Zulu chant began and I saw all the animals wake from their slumber and make their way to Pride Rock to meet their future king.
I was only 6 and this was my first Disney movie, so obviously I was not ready for the avalanche of emotions that this movie engulfed me in. I still remember how Mufasa's death destroyed me and how the tears wouldn't stop, as I watched little Simba desperately try to wake his dad up by tugging his ear…
okay, I need a moment…sorry…I can't….
If you are with me so far, you know how much this movie means to us nineties kids. It opened us up to the world of Disney and introduced us to the magic of animation.
“When I was a child, I wouldn't eat unless my parents played Lion King. Seeing the new trailer filled me with childhood nostalgia,” said my 25-year-old junior from college, Jacinth Miriyam.
Which is why it goes without saying that the people most excited for the live-action remake of the classic movies, even more so than kids, are adults, and here's why:
1. A Throwback To Our Golden Childhood
So, when the trailer dropped today and I heard James Earl Jones' magnificent, sonorous Mufasa voice saying “Everything the light touches, is our kingdom”…it was like someone had pressed a button in my brain and I was 6 all over again.
This movie signifies a time gone by, a time of innocence, a time when childhood meant watching animated movies with our mouths hanging open, marvelling at a whole another world.
“For me, The Lion King instantly represents my childhood. It was my favourite movie ever at that time. It made me laugh, cry and feel anger at the same time. I think this movie teaches resilience in all of its purity, and that's what makes it immortal and so loved”, my friend Chiara Lana from Italy told me when I asked her what she felt about watching it again.
2. Watching It On The Big Screen After Almost 20 Years
I am not among the lucky ones who got to see this movie on the big screen (my first movie in a theatre was 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun'!).
So, watching it in a live-action format on a giant screen will not only make this special, but in a way, I will be able to make up to my little self who missed this marvel on a big screen.
“Watching movies in halls was still a novel concept back in the day, at least for my family. So now that I get to see it again, even though in a different format, somehow I feel like I have honoured my childhood by catching up on what I missed out all those years ago.”- James Matthew, my 28-year-old buddy from school.
3. A Need To Remember All The Emotions We Felt When We Saw It The First Time
I was only 6, so obviously I was not prepared for so many things. The hurt I felt at Scar's betrayal, the devastation at Mufasa's death, the joy at Simba re-uniting with Nala and his mother, the horror at watching Simba and Scar fight, and the exhilaration at Simba finally climbing up Pride Rock to take his place…it was a roller-coaster that a tiny little me did not see coming.
I will never forget how I ran up to my aunt after the movie ended and demanded some serious answers from her, especially as to how could a lion kill his own brother? I will never forget her face when I asked her “Will you do this to me too, auntie?”
My 29-year-old friend from college, Shruti Menon, echoed the same sentiments, “Mufasa's death was so unpredictable and heartbreaking especially when you're watching as a kid. It really shook me as a child and still does, to be honest. But when you grow older, you do realise there's so much strength and beauty to the story, to remember who you are and where you come from. After all, it's the circle of life.”
4. The Beautiful Soundtrack
I am pretty sure this is going to be a sing-a-long movie, as 90 per cent of the people in the hall will be comprised of adults, who already know all the songs from the movie by-heart!
I'll be lying if I tell you that I'm not going to brush up on my lyrics before I catch the movie. “Oh, I just can't wait to be kiiiiiiiiiiiiing”.
5. Timon And Pumba
They were, still are, and always will be my favourite set of friends/sidekicks in a Disney movie (Mushu from 'Mulan' coming in second). I mean, come on! They are basically the life of the movie and I have never seen anything like them till date in a film.
From finding a half-dead Simba as a cub, to raising him and teaching him to find the joys of life, to ultimately watching him transform from their goofy friend to the mighty King of the Jungle, Timon and Pumba are the epitome of true friendship and by God, I wanted a pet pig after watching the movie back then.
The new trailer that was dropped today has left nineties kid across the planet screaming. Baby Simba looks so freaking cute!
It is so satisfying in every way and each and every CGI animal looks like perfection.
Honestly, even if this movie had dropped when I was like 50 or something, my excitement levels would still have been the same. This movie is a representation of my glorious childhood, which I am proud to say that kids these days will never, ever get to experience, no matter how much they try.
It goes without saying that 'The Lion King' is going to be a success as there is no chance of failure anywhere. The cast itself is nothing short of iconic and has my Goddess BEYONCE in it as Nala!
So, all I can do now is mentally prepare myself for next year, so that I still have my sanity intact by the end of the movie, and am not left a crying, quivering, destroyed mess of a woman!

It's very rare that you come across musical talents who manage to create an impression on you and leave you with an impact. Especially, in the Punjabi music industry, where every 10 days there's a new dude churning out tracks with an auto-tuned voice and a glossy video.
Almost a decade ago came Bohemia, who single-handedly gave birth to Punjabi rap.
In between, came many talents but nothing that would stick to the ears like wax. Then, I bumped into 'The PropheC'. It's been over 8 months now that I've been trying to find a single bogus track from this guy. Nope, found nothing. No bad tracks.
He's been on the hustle since 2011 and now, 7 years deep, he still isn't getting his due recognition, despite making music that will move you whether you are at a party or in love.
1) His Music Production Genius Is Just DIFFERENT.
View this post on Instagram
Rakh menu sambh ke..
A post shared by The PropheC (@prophecproductions) on Nov 11, 2018 at 8:06pm PST
You know what's wrong with the present Punjabi music industry? They are all apes. They mimic the west. Hip-hop, R&B or whatever's hot on the international charts, our artists hop in on the trend.
'Oh, rap's hot? Let's rap stupid stuff. Just make a hot beat and 90% of the job is done. Throw in some flossy cars, semi-naked women and a pool party'. Phew! This gets tiring very fast when all the reigning talents do the same trick over and over again.
This is where The PropheC's music comes in. Listen to it once and you will feel the difference. Even though his music is also heavily influenced by hip-hop, the way he blends in Punjabi and global music together sets a different atmosphere.
Not a easy feat, but when you are someone who's been doing his thing since the age of 6, you shine no matter what.
2) He Doesn't Have A Bad Song. Not ONE!
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Overtime on the album but the single is ready
A post shared by The PropheC (@prophecproductions) on Oct 26, 2018 at 8:34pm PDT
That's hard, right? I mean not making a bad song. Every artist has bad tracks to their name. But not The PropheC, well at least not till now. This dude doesn't have a track that's outright trash. Before writing this piece, I literally went through all of his studio albums, 3 in total and a mix-tape.
Add to this his collaboration with some of the best names in Urban Punjabi music like Fateh Doe, Rax Star and Mickey Singh. There's not a single track you wouldn't want to replay.
If you find one, please let me know!
3) His Videos Are Simple But Surreal.
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Still working on this album but going to share something with you soon. #sentiseason
A post shared by The PropheC (@prophecproductions) on Jun 22, 2018 at 6:54pm PDT
Back in 2011, when The PropheC was an amateur, his videos were cringe trains. Simply bad! But the man surely has learned his lessons. Check out his videos from the past 3 years and they ALL are fantastic.
And no, they aren't like your typical desi Punjabi videos with flashy rented cars and naked Russian women dancing on the beats they can't comprehend. His videos flow like water, effortless and the idea behind each video is unique which is usually brought to life by very young talented video directors.
4) He Dresses Like He Always Dresses. Not Like The Rapper Whose Style Is In Trend At The Moment
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This week. #Feelin
A post shared by The PropheC (@prophecproductions) on Aug 27, 2017 at 7:49pm PDT
Check out his Instagram and you'll see for yourself that this dude knows how to keep it simple and real. Black tees, track pants, Nikes, slim gold chain and basic denims; a classic urban music genius.
The best part is that he's been dressing this way since forever. Of course, he's up to beat with the latest swag, but he does them his way.
5) He's A Trained Music Producer And Singer
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Always a special moment ð½ð½
A post shared by The PropheC (@prophecproductions) on Apr 5, 2017 at 8:37pm PDT
Real education and relentless practice produces results that go unchallenged. The PropheC is an example of this. He trained in classical folk music since he was six. Ten years later, at 16, he was in the studio trying to cook up magic.
What shocks me is the fact that he's still not as popular as he should be with the Indian market. His new songs hit a million but actually deserve multi-million hits. It's very clear that he doesn't buy off the views on YouTube (which is very common in the Punjabi music industry) and keeps it real.
What I am dead sure about is that fact that The PropheC has a very tightly-knit circuit of fans that recognize his genius, and I am one of them.

We usually find ways to keep ourselves young throughout our lives. We go through life finding the right elixir to make that happen, but what we don't realise is that, staying young has a lot to do with how young you feel and the things you do.
But, most of the adrenaline comes from being with someone who is way younger and makes your ego feel good constantly.
So, if you're dating a younger woman, or want to, it's a different kind of a rush. Apart from the supposed immaturity and the fact that she's way behind you in life lessons and goals, the younger one can absolutely help you cruise through life with a lot more fun and vitality than you'd expect otherwise.
So, here's why it's not all that bad to date someone way younger to you:
(1) She Will Always Keep Your Energy Levels In Check
She's young and full of life. She'll never give you a dull day ever and keep you on your toes. Be it going out for drinks or taking a vacation together, she's going to make sure you go the whole hog and be as active as ever.
(2) She's A Free Spirit & You're Her Inspiration
Most women who date guys way older than them, look at them as an inspiration and someone they can take sound advice from. You don't have to treat her like a child because she's free-spirited and is trying to make it on her own.
You just need to look out for her and respect her decisions. Just because you've done things a certain way in the past doesn't mean that she needs to do them as well. She will look at you for some good advice and that's all you need to give to her.
(3) *** Is Liberating
What do you get when a younger, feisty spirit and an old experienced spirit come together? Some really good ***! No kidding. You have the experience since you're older and she has the feistiness to give you one hell of a time in bed. Besides, she'll know everything new there is to know in *** and she won't say no to trying new things. So, maybe *** with her is transitional?
(4) She's Only Going To Adapt & Grow
Younger women have a zest for life and they'd do anything to achieve it. If she knows she's dating an older guy, she'll do everything in her power to keep him happy, including keeping his interests in mind and learning things for him, that he takes interest in. She may be fascinated by all that you love and will take a keen interest in it and only adapt and grow from there. You should do the same.
(5) She'll Have A Stronger Desire Towards New Experiences
She's still finding new ways to live life so if you ask her to share an experience of any sort with you, she'll be forever ready to. She surely doesn't want to leave a single experience out when it's with you and she'll be up for anything you suggest, provided it's fun.
Dating younger women is a definite learning curve. You learn a lot about how to live your life without too many regrets and just have fun.